title: Dealing with mild cognitive impairment: help for patients and caregivers.
abstract: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a unique entity in the spectrum of syndromes of cognitive loss. Many patients referred for evaluation of memory loss come with an assumption that they already have dementia. When patients are diagnosed with MCI, they and their caregivers have to deal with the challenge of uncertainties. Patient and family education must stress the uncertainty of whether the deficits will progress. This article aims to guide the clinician who has reached a diagnosis of MCI and is working with the patient and family on coping with the uncertainties of MCI.
authors.affiliation: Section of Geriatric Medicine (11G), Division of General and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 109 Bee Street, Charleston, SC 29401, USA. Electronic address: Donald.Courtney2@va.gov.
authors.forename: Donald L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Courtney
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003704:Dementia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care
keywords: Activities of daily living; Alzheimer disease; Cognitive training; Dementia progression; Mild cognitive impairment